Chapter 58: Do You Believe He Wrote This Song?

After Liu Yali finished her conversation with Nan Qiao, she noticed Ling Jie and the others chatting with Lu Zhou and walked over, just in time to hear the words “Hua Xuan.”
“Hua Xuan Music has already contacted you?” she asked, her expression tinged with surprise.

Lu Zhou saw Liu Yali approach and nodded, greeting her with, “Sister Li,” as a form of acknowledgment.

“You turned them down?” Liu Yali raised her brows, even though she’d already overheard it, she wanted to confirm once more.

Lu Zhou replied, “Yes.”

A look of bewilderment appeared on Liu Yali’s face, as if she couldn’t comprehend his decision.

“Lu Zhou, shall we talk privately for a moment?” Liu Yali suggested.

Lu Zhou wasn’t particularly eager to chat, but ultimately agreed. He had a vague suspicion that his invitation to Nan Qiao’s birthday party this time might have something to do with Liu Yali’s intention to have a face-to-face discussion.

After they left, Ling Jie and Fang Yanbin were left exchanging confused glances.

“What kind of move is that?” Fang Yanbin still couldn’t make sense of Lu Zhou’s actions.

“Maybe the terms of collaboration weren’t good enough? Honestly, we’ve never signed with Hua Xuan Music ourselves, so who knows what goes on inside. Some big companies look impressive on the surface, but their contracts might be quite exploitative behind closed doors,” Ling Jie shrugged, offering a forced explanation.

“Maybe?” Fang Yanbin looked skeptical, thinking aloud, “Could it be he’s exaggerating? Maybe Hua Xuan Music did approach him because of his new song, but when it came to the actual skill assessment, he didn’t pass?”

“That explanation actually sounds more plausible,” Ling Jie nodded in agreement, though still uncertain. “But there’s another thing I can’t figure out. If Hua Xuan Music wanted to sign him because of his new song, why did Ye Fangfei help promote his debut release?”

This question stumped Fang Yanbin as well. He scratched his forehead and said, “Maybe he’s friends with Ye Fangfei?”

Ling Jie pressed his lips together, his expression turning even more incredulous. “How did those two become friends?”

“That’s a mystery,” Fang Yanbin shrugged, just as confused. “He seems to have a pretty good relationship with Sister Nan too. This world is full of puzzles.”

“I’ve heard about Sister Nan. Lu Zhou once accompanied her as a backup dancer at her concert and had an accident, ended up saving her,” Ling Jie said.

“So that’s it? That makes sense then,” Fang Yanbin replied.

“By the way, do you believe that ‘First Love’ was written by him? Back when he was a trainee with us, I don’t recall him having that kind of talent,” Ling Jie asked Fang Yanbin.

“Well… Honestly, I didn’t believe it either. If he truly had that ability, he would’ve been famous long ago instead of languishing in the company for so many years.”

Fang Yanbin made his own judgment. “He didn’t sign with Hua Xuan Music, so I’m guessing he bought the song from some ghostwriter marketplace, bought out the rights and put his name on it. Got lucky and found a gem.”

“Weren’t you close buddies with him before? Don’t you know his abilities?” Ling Jie queried.

“I’m wondering if he might have made huge progress these past couple of years,” Ling Jie mused.

“You’re overthinking it. If he’d really improved that much, would the company have terminated his contract?” Fang Yanbin replied.

“True.” Ling Jie nodded thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Liu Yali and Lu Zhou had found a quiet corner to sit down.

“If Hua Xuan Music was interested in signing you, why did you refuse? Were their terms unsatisfactory?” Liu Yali asked directly, opening a bottle of red wine and pouring Lu Zhou half a glass, wasting no time on pleasantries.

“The terms were decent, but I have new plans for myself at the moment, so I’m not considering signing with any company right now,” Lu Zhou said, raising his glass to clink hers, expressing his true intentions.

He understood Liu Yali’s purpose—she was likely hoping to persuade him to return to the company, since last time she hadn’t come in person but had sent Xu Mengdan instead.

The situation was somewhat ironic; the last time Lu Zhou had spoken with Liu Yali, it was in her office, where she had approved his contract termination without hesitation and even hinted that he might consider changing careers.

“Would you mind sharing a bit about your new plans? After all, I used to be your executive agent. Even though we’re no longer working together, I can still offer advice,” Liu Yali said, her eyes warm and friendly.

“It’s nothing too novel—I just want to try being an independent musician,” Lu Zhou replied.

“I understand,” Liu Yali crossed her legs elegantly, a smile always at her lips, adopting a genuine, heart-to-heart manner.

“There are independent artists doing quite well in the industry. There’s freedom, you retain your own copyrights, and if you have enough confidence, it’s a path worth considering.”

“But being an independent singer has its drawbacks, like insufficient resources, or not getting the best PR support in a crisis.”

“Those who succeed as independent musicians generally fall into three categories: either they have strong financial backing; or they became popular through a company, gained fame and strength, and then struck out to start their own studio; or they’re naturally gifted…”

“If you don’t meet any of those three criteria, the independent route will likely be a more difficult journey.”

“Still, you’re young, ambitious, and creative—that’s good. Try it out, who knows, you might succeed. These things can’t be predicted.”

Liu Yali smiled and patted Lu Zhou’s shoulder.

“Good luck, I believe in you. If you ever get tired of playing solo and want a place to lean on, you’re always welcome to come back to Jinhua and talk to me.”

After all that groundwork, Liu Yali’s conclusion surprised Lu Zhou a little.

Clearly, her persuasion style was quite different from Xu Mengdan’s. Xu Mengdan tended to discourage him, telling him solo work wouldn’t get him far and listing all the company’s support. Liu Yali, on the other hand, gave him affirmation, smiling as she tried to create a sense that the company was a safe harbor, always there if he wanted to return.

One had to admit, Liu Yali understood how to play with people’s hearts—her leadership position was well deserved.

“Thank you, Sister Li.”

“No need for formalities. Oh, a word of advice.” Liu Yali took a sip of red wine, her smile bright.

“Your new song is gaining traction, but it’s still at the stage where the song is popular but you, personally, are not. Next, you should think about how to boost your own recognition as well. That way, your path ahead will be broader.”

“Understood,” Lu Zhou replied.

She only suggested the direction for his efforts, not a concrete plan—a typical Liu Yali move. She was handing him a path to ponder and explore; if he hit a wall and found he couldn’t solve the problem on his own, he’d naturally begin to appreciate the advantages of having a company, and might want to return.

Moreover, since Lu Zhou had already turned down other companies who’d extended olive branches, if he ever wanted to sign with someone again, he wouldn’t be thick-skinned enough to beg others to take him. Having left that invitation open, Liu Yali ensured he’d naturally consider his old company as the most reliable option.

If he got hungry, he’d come back.

Liu Yali sipped her wine, watching Lu Zhou with a friendly smile.

However, she hadn’t anticipated that Lu Zhou had already mapped out his route to personal fame.

Nor could she have foreseen how quickly Lu Zhou’s name would rise to prominence.